Winnipeg police investigate 17th and 18th homicides of 2019

Winnipeg police are investigating two more homicides, one in the West End and one in Fort Richmond. 

They were called to the 900 block of Greencrest Avenue Friday, at about 5:20 p.m. There, officers found an adult male who had died. 

At a press conference Saturday, Const. Jay Murray said the man had not been dead a long time. 

In the West End, officers remained on scene at a residence in the 400 block of Simcoe Street Saturday morning investigating the death of an adult woman. 

The woman was found with stab wounds early Saturday morning, but succumbed to her injuries, Murray said. Police responded to a call about the incident at 2:45 a.m. 

Neither victim has been identified by police. 

Few other details about the two deaths, which were 17th and 18th homicides of the year, were released Saturday.

"Last year we finished the year with 22 homicides, and I believe we didn't hit that 18 threshold until I believe Nov. 10 last year. So obviously that's a significant change," Murray said. "The nature of homicides is that they're incredibly random and difficult to predict. We don't know what the future's going to bring, what the end of year total is going to be.

"One homicide is really too many. One homicide in itself is concerning. It's extra concerning to see the number that we've had so far." 

Murray said the increase in the homicide rate could be linked to more methampetamines and guns on Winnipeg streets. He couldn't say if either factor is related to this weekend's cases.

'Nothing happens around here' 

Jerusalem Kahsay lives directly across the street from where the man was found dead in Fort Richmond. 

She said the area was blocked off by police for hours Friday evening while they investigated.

"We couldn't come in for a couple hours. We had to wait out the other side this whole area was a crime scene," she said.

Her neighbourhood is a quiet area, so when her children first called her to tell her the area was surrounded by police, she said she thought they were playing a prank on her. 

"Nothing happens around here, so I was like, 'Are you guys sure? You guys are not playing games on me?'"

Having a swarm of police only feet from her house, investigating someone's death, has been terrifying, she said. 

"As a mom of two kids, you're always thinking of the worst or you're always thinking about their safety. So it was pretty traumatizing to know that something huge like this happened like within feet from my house," she said. 

From 2007-16, Statistics Canada says the city averaged 29 homicides per year. 

The city set a record in 2011 with 41 homicides. But by the end of May 2011, only 16 homicides had been recorded. 

2019 homicides to date: 

1. Jan. 1: Adam Martin.
2. Jan. 7: Dexter Cortavista Dejarisco.
3. Jan. 9: Eunjee Kim.
4. Feb. 6: Anthony Brian Cromastey.
5. Feb. 6: Rodney Albert Kirton.
6. March 3: Jaime Adao. 
7. March 8: Warren Stewart Nabess. 
8. March 12: Brett Anthony Cadieux. 
9. March 16: John Gabriel. 
10. March 17: William Lewis Paul. 
11. March 26: Lise Danais. 
12. April 15: Yazan Alhorani. 
13. April 19: Joselito Fernandez.
14. May 5: Dylan Brian Hanchar. 
15. May 11: Calvin Chan. 
16. May 21: Jessie Robert David Catterson.
17. May 24: Adult male. 
18. May 25: Adult female.

Murray said at least five of this year's homicides remain unsolved.

Murray noted most homicides aren't random, though some are. He recommended that people report suspicious activity or residences online.

Murray said police have been taking the steps they can to be proactive, including their new guns-and-gangs unit and more public forums to educate people about trends in meth use.

"There's a wealth of steps that we're taking, but unfortunately the root of some of these homicides is outside the scope of the police department. For example, again, I'm going to circle back to the meth crisis, [police alone are] not going to solve that crisis," Murray said. 

"We need co-operation from all levels of government, from the community; we've gotten some of that co-operation and we continue to move forward to tackle this crisis, but it's going to take everyone, I think, to ultimately solve this issue."